Time to sling out your paperbacks, as the UK’s about to be invaded by the Sony Reader.
Heard of the Kindle? This is an electronic book reader released in the US by Amazon as a new way of distributing books. This won’t be coming to the UK, but in a matter of weeks, you’ll be able to get your hands on something (possibly) better.
If you’re a serial book reader, fear not, as there’s an alternative about to hit the UK. From September 2008, you can get your pinkies on the Sony Reader in the UK.
The Reader has a 6-inch display, and is reportedly almost as good as paper. The screen is high-contrast and high resolution, with a near 180° viewing angle. The Reader supports 3 font sizes, is an ideal travel companion, is only half an inch thick, and can store around 160 e-books. Battery life is pretty impressive too, with the built-in rechargeable battery supporting up to 7,500 continuous page turns on a single charge. One thing that’s not clear, is how many books will be available electronically – it’s all about the content.
The Reader from Sony is available to pre-order now, exclusively from Waterstones UK, or direct from Sony UK.
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I imported the previous version of this last year, it’s well worth it, I’m slowly replacing my paper books with ebooks, that’s very handy when you’re running short on space!
for £200.00 it should be able to grab bucket loads of content.
if i`m right the kindle enables you to get news papers and bloggs as well as books and emags .
for me though its still a mite expensive.
but a review would be a good idea
IN your article you say: “Is there anything to stop me buying ebooks from Sony’s ebook store in the USA and using them on my UK bought ebook? I’m not finding the books I want at Waterstones in the UK but they are on Sony’s store in the US” (Philippa Napper, Dec 2008).
However the SOIny US site is not accessible from the UK (it checks via your IP address). Also most (if not all) US ebook stores also check either your IP is US based or that your billing address is US based (or both). Many books are only “cleared for sale to USA/Canada”and yo ucant buy those from US sites (a real nuisance as many are titles not yet available in the UK).
I love the format of the Sony ebook, but very disappointed that UK cannot access US site as Waterstone site is terrible. I couldn’t get the third part of a trilogy I was reading on the Watersone site (it was on the US Sony ebookstore) and had to buy a two inch think paperback to complete the series.
Oh buy the way if you break the screen don’t send it to the Sony repair centre as you don’t get it back for a month and it costs the same to repair as buying a new one.
Global village scattered with pitfalls…
Anyone tried accessing the site with a proxy ?
Just bought an ebook from Waterstone. Got the ebook on my pc. Transferred it over to my Sony Reader(simple click and drag), could read it!Came up with “pretected page!”. What a total waste of time and money!!!!
I meant could not read it on my Sony Reader. Can anyone help?
L Cornwall:
This page may help:
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/pages/help-ebook-downloads/200001137/
alternatively use Adobe Digital Editions, works for me….